Ring Contraction of 1,2-Dihydronaphthalenes Promoted by Thallium(III) in Acetonitrile: A Diastereoselective Approach to Indanes

trans-1,3-Disubstituted indanes are conveniently accessed by a stereoselective ring contraction of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes upon treatment with thallium(III) nitrate (TTN) in acetonitrile. Under these conditions, the oxidative rearrangement of either di- or trisubstituted double bonds is possible.

Níveis urinários de TGF-B1 em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 : impacto da hipertensão arterial sistêmica

Resumo não disponível.

Purification and renal effects of phospholipase A(2) isolated from Bothrops insularis venom

Bothrops insularis venom contains a variety of substances presumably responsible for several pharmacological effects. We investigated the biochemical and biological effects of phospholipase A(2) protein isolated from B. insularis venom and the chromatographic profile showed 7 main fractions and the main phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) enzymatic activity was detected in fractions IV and V. Fraction IV was submitted to a new chromatographic procedure on ion exchange chromatography, which allowed the elution of 5 main fractions designated as lV-1 to IV-5, from which lV-4 constituted the main fraction. The molecular homogeneity of this fraction was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and demonstrated by mass spectrometry (MS), which showed a molecular mass of 13984.20 Da; its N-terminal sequence presented a high amino acid identity (up to 95%) with the PLA(2) of Bothrops jararaca and Bothrops asper. Phospholipase A(2) isolated from B. insularis (Bi PLA(2)) venom (10 mu g/mL) was also studied as to its effect on the renal function of isolated perfused kidneys of Wistar rats (n = 6). Bi PLA(2) increased perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistance (RVR), urinary flow (UF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Sodium (%TNa+) and chloride tubular reabsorption (%TCl-) decreased at 120 min, without alteration in potassium transport. In conclusion, PLA(2) isolated from B. insularis venom promoted renal alterations in the isolated perfused rat kidney. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purification and characterization of the biological effects of phospholipase A(2) from sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum

Sea anemones contain a variety of biologically active substances. Bunodosoma caissarum is a sea anemone from the Cnidaria phylum, found only in Brazilian coastal waters. The aim of the present work was to study the biological effects of PLA(2) isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum on the isolated perfused kidney, the arteriolar mesenteric bed and on insulin secretion. Specimens of B. caissarum were collected from the Sao Vicente Channel on the southern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Reverse phase HPLC analysis of the crude extract of B. caissarum detected three PLA(2) proteins (named BcPLA(2)1, BCPLA(2)2 and BcPLA(2)3) found to be active in B. caissarum extracts. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of BcPLA(2)1 showed one main peak at 14.7 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of BcPLA(2)1 showed high amino acid sequence identity with PLA(2) group III protein isolated from the Mexican lizard (PA23 HELSU, HELSU, PA22 HELSU) and with the honey bee Apis mellifera (PLA(2) and 1POC_A). In addition, BcPLA(2)1 also showed significant overall homology to bee PLA(2). The enzymatic activity induced by native BCPLA(2)1 (20 mu g/well) was reduced by chemical treatment with p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) and with morin. BcPLA(2)1 strongly induced insulin secretion in presence of high glucose concentration. In isolated kidney, the PLA(2) from B. caissarum increased the perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate, and sodium, potassium and chloride levels of excretion. BcPLA(2)1, however, did not increase the perfusion pressure on the mesenteric vascular bed. In conclusion, PLA(2), a group III phospholipase isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum, exerted effects on renal function and induced insulin secretion in conditions of high glucose concentration. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Renal and cardiovascular effects of Bothrops marajoensis venom and phospholipase A(2)

Bothrops marajoensis is found in the savannah of Marajo Island in the State of Par S and regions of Amapa State, Brazil. The aim of the work was to study the renal and cardiovascular effects of the B. marajoensis venom and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). The venom was fractionated by Protein Pack 5PW. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of sPLA(2) showed amino acid identity with other lysine K49sPLA(2)s of snake venom. B. marajoensis venom (30 mu g/mL) decreased the perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate and sodium tubular transport. PLA(2) did not change the renal parameters. The perfusion pressure of the mesenteric bed did not change after infusion of venom. In isolated heart, the venom decreased the force of contraction and increased PP but did not change coronary flow. In the arterial pressure, the venom and PLA(2) decreased mean arterial pressure and cardiac frequency. The presence of atrial flutter and late hyperpolarisation reversed, indicating QRS complex arrhythmia and dysfunction in atrial conduction. In conclusion, B. marajoensis venom and PLA(2) induce hypotension and bradycardia while simultaneously blocking electrical conduction in the heart. Moreover, the decrease in glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow and electrolyte transport demonstrates physiological changes to the renal system. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of Neurotoxic Secretory Phospholipases A(2) Enzymatic, Edematogenic, and Myotoxic Activities by Harpalycin 2, an Isoflavone Isolated from Harpalyce brasiliana Benth

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Harpalycin 2 inhibits the enzymatic and platelet aggregation activities of PrTX-III, a D49 phospholipase A(2) from Bothrops pirajai venom

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antibacterial and antiparasitic effects of Bothrops marajoensis venom and its fractions: Phospholipase A(2) and L-amino acid oxidase

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-regulated sarcoendoplasmic reticulurn Ca2+-ATPase 2 expression by prolactin and glucocorticoids is involved in the adaptation of insulin secretory response during the peripartum period

During pregnancy, the maternal endocrine pancreas undergoes, as a consequence of placental lactogens and prolactin (PR,L) action, functional changes that are characterized by increased glucose-induced insulin secretion. After delivery, the maternal endocrine pancreas rapidly returns to nonpregnant state, which is mainly attributed to the increased serum levels of glucocorticoids (GCs). Although GCs are known to decrease insulin secretion and counteract PRL action, the mechanisms for these effects are poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is increased in islets treated with PRL. In the present study, we show that STAT3 expression and serine phosphorylation are increased in pancreatic islets at the end of pregnancy (P19). STAT3 serine phosphorylation rapidly returned to basal levels 3 days after delivery (U). The expression of the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2 (SERCA2), a crucial protein involved in the regulation of calcium handling in P-cells, was also increased in P19, returning to basal levels at L3. PRL increased SERCA2 and STAT3 expressions and STAT3 serine phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. The upregulation of SERCA2 by PRL was abolished after STAT3 knockdown. Moreover, PRL-induced STAT3 serine phosphorylation and SERCA2 expression were inhibited by dexamethasone (DEX). Insulin secretion from islets of PI 9 rats pre-incubated with thapsigargin and L3 rats showed a dramatic suppression of first phase of insulin release. The present results indicate that PRL regulates SERCA2 expression by a STAT3-dependent mechanism. PRL effect is counteracted by DEX and might contribute to the adaptation of maternal endocrine pancreas during the peripartum period.

Relação da imunoexpressão da bmp-2, bmpr-ia e bmpr-ii com o perfil clínico-patológico em carcinoma epidermóide de lábio inferior

Currently, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have effective participation in the growth of malignancies. Knowing that there are few studies involving BMPs and oral squamous cell carcinoma, this work constitutes an immunohistochemical study of BMP-2, BMPR IA and BMPR II in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the lower lip relating to the clinical and pathological aspects of this lesion. The sample consisted of 40 cases of SCC of the lower lip, being 20 cases of SCC of the lower lip with regional metastasis and 20 cases without metastasis. We evaluated the intensity of expression (score 1 to mark absent / weak, score 2 for high ) and was found the percentage of labeled cells, where the score was 1 cases with 0 to 50% of positive cells, score 2 with 51 to 75% of positive cells, and score 3 more than 75% of positive cells. The sample comprised 72.5% of men with a mean age of 65.8 years, there was a predominance of stage II and 52.5% of the carcinomas were classified as low grade, being carcinoma with metastasis presenting most cases (70%) as carcinomas of high malignancy grade (p = 0.004). The largest number of cases of SCC of the lower lip that were in stages I / II (61, 9%) were classified as carcinomas of low grade malignancy and carcinomas in stages III / IV were classified as high-grade tumors (p = 0, 024). The BMP-2 showed strong intensity of immunostaining in 82.5%, BMPR-IA showed 55% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak and BMPR-II showed 85% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak. Only the protein BMPR-IA were significantly associated with all clinic-pathological parameters studied, metastasis (p <0.001), TNM (p <0.001) and histological grade of malignancy with (p = 0.028). The percentage of positive cells, all markers showed the highest number of cases with more than 75% of positive cells (score 3) and only BMPR-II showed statistical difference when related to the presence and absence of metastasis (p = 0.049 ). We conclude that there is disturbance in the BMP signaling pathway in EC-mediated lower lip and that high expression of BMP-2 associated with the expression of BMPR-IA and BMPR-II are associated with metastasis in carcinoma

Estudo in vitro dos efeitos da BMP-2 e do seu antagonista Noggin sobre a proliferação e migração celulares em carcinoma epidermóide de língua

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent malignancy in the oral cavity and reach a large number of individuals, has become an important public health problem. Studies have demonstrated changes in pathway components BMP in various types of cancers as prostate, colon, breast, gastric and OSCCs. Is the current knowledge that these proteins may exert pro-tumor effect in more advanced stages of neoplastic development coming to favor progression and invasion tumor. The inhibition of the signaling pathway BMP-2 through its antagonists, have shown positive results of antitumor activity and use of Noggin may be a novel therapeutic target for cancer. Given this evidence and the few studies with BMP-2, Noggin and OSCC, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of BMP-2 and its antagonist Noggin on proliferation and migration cell in line of cell cultures of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC25). The study was divided in three groups, a control group, where SCC25 cells suffered no treatment, a BMP-2 group, in which cells were treated with 100ng/ml of BMP-2 and a group of cells that were treated with 100ng/ml of Noggin. For the proliferation assay and cell cycle were established three time intervals (24, 48 and 72 hours). Proliferative activity was investigated by trypan blue and cell cycle analysis by staining with propidium iodide flow cytometry. The potential for migration / invasion of SCC25 cells was performing by a cell invasion assay using Matrigel in a 48-hour interval. The proliferation curve showed a higher proliferation in cells treated with BMP-2 in 72 hours (p < 0.05), and lower overgrowth and cell viability in Noggin group. Recombinant proteins favored a greater percentage of cells in cell cycle phase Go/G1 with a statistically significant difference in the interval of 24 hours (p < 0.05). BMP- 2 produced a greater invasion of cells studied as well as its antagonist Noggin inhibits invasion of cells (p < 0.05). Thus, these results indicate that BMP-2 promotes malignant phenotype, dues stimulates proliferation and invasion of SCC25 cells and, its antagonist Noggin may be an alternative treatment, due to inhibit the tumor progression

Studies on the Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 from Odontoblast-like Cells

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mineral trioxide aggregate stimulates macrophages and mast cells to release neutrophil chemotactic factors: role of IL-1 beta, MIP-2 and LTB4

Objective. In the present study, the role of macrophages and mast cells in mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-induced release of neutrophil chemotactic factor was investigated.Study design. MTA suspension (50 mg/mL) was plated over inserts on macrophages or mast cells for 90 minutes. Untreated cells served as controls. Cells were washed and cultured for 90 minutes in RPMI without the stimuli. Macrophages and mast cell supernatants were injected intraperitoneally (0.5 mL/cavity), and neutrophil migration was assessed 6 hours later. In some experiments, cells were incubated for 30 minutes with dexamethasone (DEX, 10 mu M/well), BWA4C (BW, 100 mu M/well) or U75302 (U75, 10 mu M/well). The concentration of Leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) in the cell-free supernatant from mast cells and macrophage culture was measured by ELISA.Results. Supernatants from MTA-stimulated macrophages and mast cells caused neutrophil migration. The release of neutrophil chemotactic factor by macrophages and mast cells was significantly inhibited by DEX, BW, or U75. Macrophages and mast cells expressed mRNA for interleukin-1 (IL-1)beta and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and the pretreatment of macrophages and mast cells with DEX, BW, or U75 significantly altered IL-1 beta and MIP-2 mRNA expression. LTB4 was detected in the MTA-stimulated macrophage supernatant but not mast cells.Conclusions. MTA-induces the release of neutrophil chemotactic factor substances from macrophages and mast cells with participation of IL-1 beta, MIP-2, and LTB4. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: e135-e142)